MOTORING

Evening Star, Issue 17764, 12 September 1921, Page 5

MOTORING

[By CAUBUUEiroa.] Brief accounts of holiday trips, roads, and places of interest' are incited for this column. SAFETY LESSON MOTORISTS. no —Level Railway Crossings.— Many level crossing accidents could be avoided. Although a number of crossings are really dangerous, on account of the railway track being obscured by trees, hedges, or embankments, there are numer-, ous spots where a little careful driving would prevent any collisions The report of the Interstate Commerce Commission in the U.S.A. showed the following facts concerning motor accidents at railroad crossings ;

1917. 1918. Accidents 2,076 ,2,270 Persons killed ... 1,083' 1,131 Persons injured ... 3,000 3,100 One railroad reported that 95 oot of 199 automobile accidents (47 per cent.) at railway crossings in six months resulted from cars trying to cross directly in front of an approaching train. Of the remainder, fifty-four (27 per cent.) resulted, from cars running into trains, and not vice versa. It was reported by one large railroad company that in one year over 500 crossing gates lowered to protect the public were run into and broken down by motor cars. Yet another company reported on actual observations of 3,539 car drivers at railway crossings as under : No. Percent. 2,907 31 Looked neither way before Crossing. 702 17 Looked in only one direction. 30 2 Looked both ways. It is advisable never to cross a railway line in top gear. Many accidents happen because cars become stalled while on the track. It is safer to change into second or bottom a reasonable- distance before crossing a track. All crossings should be considered dangerous by a motorist, whether guarded or not. Crossing bells are sometimes out of order, and watchmen or gate operators may be off duty. Early this year one of the hells at the bad crossing beyond AVaikouaiti would not cease ringing. It might just as readily refuse to ring. Nor is it wise to depend upon an engine whistle. Even at the much-discussed Gordon road crossing I have known a train rush across without the warning whistle—my, nearest approach so far to a railway crossing accident.

Bo specially careful at crossings where there are two or more tracks. Do not cross directly behind a train that lias just gone by. Another train may be coming in the opposite direction on another track. A train running forty miles an hour goes 59ft in one second, and cannot be stopped, it is said, in less than about onequarter of a mile. A motor car at twentyfive miles an hour can be stopped in 58ft. Which should stop, look, and listen at railway crossings? Note, too, that accidents involving railway trains and motors rarely ever kill or injure anyone on the trains; it is usually the people in the motors who are the sufferers. Doubtless few motorists are anxious to have an epitaph something akin to the following : ' Here lies Jonathan M'Glossin; The engine beat him to the crossin’. The bloke required no costly casket— His remains were picked up in a basket.

“ At the end of the past financial year,” stated Mr T. M. WiMord. M.P., to a Wellington 'Times’ reporter, “according to the returns given by the Merchants’ Association, more petrol was produced in the United States than:, was consumed there, and large quantities are held _in storage I may say that prior to leaving for San Francisco in May last I imported another twenty oases, and landed them in Wellington for £22 18s 9d,* as against £23 for my previous shipment of twenty case.'. Pefro! runs at 25 cents, or Is a gallon,"* in America to-day, costing only four cents a gallon to refine; and many new oil wells are being opened in California and elsewhere.” • It is interesting to note the composition of the senior tourist motor cycle race decided two weeks ago in the Isle of Man (off England), and won by Davies on an “A.J.S.” machine. The machines entered comprised 12 Nortons, 8 Sunbeams, 6 Triumphs, 6 8.5.A.5.4 Scotte, 4 Indians, „ 3 Douglases. 3 Rovers, 3 James, 2 Blackbumes, 2 Martins, 2 Budges, 2 A.J.S.s, 1 Cdulson. With only two machines entered the English-made “ A.J.S.” did exceptionally well to carry off this classic road event.